The popular crowd sourcing app Uber has come under fire recently for the unfair playing field that is thought to have been created by the company. Since Uber is unregulated in regards to the services that they provide, the drivers of their vehicles do not need to buy a taxi medallion (license) that costs $1,000…
Archives for May 2014
3. Changing Consumers: Catering Across Generations
For the first time, four generations are active simultaneously in the US marketplace; leading to a more diverse market. Baby Boomers and their children, called Generation Y or Millennials, compose the largest two generations and wield the largest spending power. While these two generations are similar in size, their shopping behavior, use of technology, and…
Bots help Americans get jobs
Usually new technology takes jobs away but in the case of the new robotics world, it is bringing jobs back to America. Smaller, less expensive robots are making it more affordable for manufacturers to build factories and distribution facilities in the US. This reduces costs and improves quality controls over off-shore solutions. So, the work…
Product traceability challenges in a digital world
Amazon, and other large fulfillers of digital orders, are struggling with the variety of SKUs (stock keeping units) that exist for what looks like the same consumer item. The grocery industry has lived with this challenge for years. The same rolls of paper towels come in 2, 3, 4, X packs. The same product is…
Is it time for supply chains to go local?
Is it time for supply chains to go local? This is a question that is being asked across all industries that make use of a supply chain. With increased globalization, supply chains have been put at risk due to small interruptions that may have large repercussions. The cheap mass production supply chains of the past…
Tesco Pilots “Shop and Go”
Hate carrying your groceries home? Or don’t want to be stuck carting your groceries around while you complete more errands or meet a friend? You’re not alone. Shoppers in London can now swing through the grocery store on their way home, pick out their produce and other items, checkout, and have their groceries delivered to…
#AmazonCart is the new candy display
Do you ever grab a candy bar at the checkout display in the store? Those impulse purchases drive lots of volume for manufacturers. There was a fear that the digital world would eliminate those quick (and often poor) decisions. Fear not, new ways of buying before thinking are appearing. The latest is #AmazonCart, a joint…
4. Little Big Store: Finite Shelves, Infinite Aisles
The CPG industry went through a period where stores built supercenters large enough to require GPS systems in order to navigate. Those days are over. Today, most retailers are developing smaller formats for neighborhoods or urban environments. The recession enticed many non-grocery channels to expand their grocery offerings. Mass merchandisers, like Walmart and Target, have…
Gen Z Push the Perimeter of the Store Further
Analysts expect the Gen Z (babies to 23) to drive the perimeter of the store even harder than their Gen X cousins. They want fresh foods and are willing to do some work to get them. That means more proteins and produce and fewer things that come in cans and boxes. Grocery stores need to…
Does your supply chain work on Sunday?
We are moving into a 7 by 24 hour world. Sundays are no longer a day of rest, they are a day for home delivery. Amazon announced Sunday delivery in 15 markets. Consumer expectations are being set and supply chains are going to need to meet new demands for operation times and speed. Amazon expands…